The next day, Ren tried to pretend everything was normal.
He failed.
He couldn't stop thinking about:
That weird glowing System
Kiyomi's soul-scanning stare
And the guy she sent to mashed potato heaven with a lunch tray
The problem was, normal didn't exist anymore.
Because after school, just as he was zipping up his bag, someone whispered in his ear:
> "Skyborn..."
Ren turned around.
The classroom was empty.
Too empty.
🌒 Outside the School
Ren walked home alone. The sun was setting behind the city skyline, but the street felt off. Like the shadows were… listening.
Suddenly, a wind howled through the alley.
Cold. Unnatural.
Then— claws scraped against concrete.
A shadow detached from the wall and stepped forward.
It had no face. No mouth. Just two eyes made of smoke.
> [Spectral Fighter Detected]
Threat Level: Low (Unless You're Dumb)
"OH COOL, A GHOST. NOPE," Ren said, already backpedaling.
The Spectral thing lunged. Fast.
Ren dove to the side, tumbling across the pavement. He landed hard, rolled up, and raised his fists.
"Okay. Alright. Just pretend it's one of Jin's training dummies."
He took a breath.
Then… he remembered.
Last night.
Th
e energy.
The pulse in his palm.
⚡ "Sky Echo Palm" – 5% Sync
> Unlocked.
Technique: Shockwave burst of kinetic energy through the palm. Short-range, high impact. Use only when desperate or dramatic.
Perfect. He wa
s both.
The Spectral Fighter came at him again, claws raised—
Ren swung his palm forward like he was slapping time itself.
A blue shockwave blasted from his hand, ripping through the air.
BOOM!
The ghost went flying — straight into a parked scooter, which it shattered into oily pieces.
Smoke curled up as it faded into nothing.
Ren stared at his hand.
"...I'm a Jedi now."
Behind him, someone clapped slowly.
Ren spun.
Kiyomi stood in the alley, chewing on a lollipop.
"Nice reflexes," she said. "Still sloppy though. You left your back wide open."
"You were watching?!"
"Protecting. There's a difference."
Ren blinked. "Why are you actually here? Who are you?"
Kiyomi shrugged. "Let's just say I've had my own run-in with Spectrals. A long time ago. I lost everything."
Her eyes darkened.
"And then I came back."
Before Ren could ask what that even meant, she turned and walked off.
"You're not ready yet, Skyborn. But you will be. You don't really have a choice
."
🥋 Back at Home… The Chicken
That night, Uncle Jin had a huge grin.
"Time for your next trial."
"I literally fought a ghost in an alley today," Ren deadpanned. "Can I get a break?"
"No."
Jin opened a cage.
Out stepped a chicken.
But not just any chicken.
It had glowing red eyes.
A scar over one wing.
And a small weighted vest labeled "MURDERBIRD".
"…Uncle. Why is it wearing gear."
"This is Kazuki. He's our family's sacred training chicken. He hates all forms of weakness."
Kazuki flapped once.
Then attacked.
🐔 THE BATTLE BEGINS
Ren ran in circles.
Kazuki chased him like a feathery missile.
Jin laughed while eating popcorn.
Ren scre
amed.
💥 SYSTEM UPDATE
> [Physical Stats: Slightly Less Terrible]
[Sky Echo Palm – Basic Mastery Acquired]
[New Passive: "Chicken Reflex" – +2 to dodge speed while panick
ing]
By the end, Ren was covered in feathers and regret.
Kazuki perched victoriously on his head.
"...I think I found my natural predator," Ren muttered.
"Good," Jin said. "Now do 100 push-ups while he's still a
ngry."
🔥 Chapter 6 Teaser:
> Ren and Kiyomi are partnered for a school project. Sparks fly (mostly from Ren's anxiety). Meanwhile, The Watcher reveals his face — and he's not alone anymore. Something else is coming… something ancient. Something hungr
y.